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Milwaukee litigator inspired by MBA president

By: JESSICA STEPHEN//September 7, 2012//

Milwaukee litigator inspired by MBA president

By: JESSICA STEPHEN//September 7, 2012//

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Maria Kreiter (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

It’s been a circuitous path to her life as a litigator, but Maria Kreiter wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Believe it or not, I was going to be a geologist or a geology professor. … I was knee-deep in rocks,” said Kreiter, a senior associate at Godfrey & Kahn SC, who defends banks and does business litigation.

Years ago, Kreiter was a science major with an eye on accounting. During her last year in college, she learned about environmental law, and her path shifted again.

“I thought that would be something that would allow me to blend a number of interests,” she said, “so I thought I’d be an environmental lawyer.”

During her first year in law school, Kreiter began to consider a future in litigation, when she worked for Milwaukee Bar Association President Charles Barr.

“His passion for litigation was contagious,” Kreiter said. “… Litigation is really about helping people solve their problems, and that’s something you can really get behind.”

Kreiter joined Godfrey & Kahn in 2007. Earlier this year, she took a two-month leave to work with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted gun and drug cases and had seven trials.

“Looking back, I wonder, ‘What if I hadn’t worked for Charlie?’ What path would I be on?’” Kreiter said. “I don’t know that I’d be as happy if I hadn’t taken the path that I did.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What was your most useful law school course? Why?
Maria Kreiter: It is a tie between trial advocacy and advanced civil procedure. Trial advocacy is a hands-on course that introduced me to an important and fun part of being a litigator. I felt much more confident being in court early in my career having had the chance to practice with my peers. And, my law school trial partner and I still reminisce about this class – the good, the bad and the ugly. Advanced civil procedure also introduced doctrines and Rules that I use or consider on a regular basis. It is a critical foundation course for any litigator.”

WLJ: What was your least favorite course in law school? Why?
Kreiter: Constitutional law. While this course was beneficial and provided important perspective, I knew it was not an area of the law I would pursue.

WLJ: What is the best part of being an attorney?
Kreiter: Advocacy. There is no feeling like winning an intense case, and I love helping clients obtain the best result possible given their particular circumstances. Litigation is also a very social profession – getting to know clients well, working with opposing counsel or co-counsel, deposing witnesses and interacting with those in local bar associations is extremely rewarding and provides an important balance to my daily practice.

WLJ: If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what would you have done?
Kreiter: Believe it or not, I was planning to be a geologist or a geology professor. I thought I might become an environmental lawyer but found my way to commercial litigation.

WLJ: What profession would you not like to explore?
Kreiter: I would never want to be in a profession where there are not regular challenges. Also, while challenging, I would never survive as a doctor. Legal issues are one thing but health issues are a whole different level.

WLJ: If you could develop one CLE course for credit, what would it be about?
Kreiter: The best ways to defend banks. I find that most banks try to do the right thing by their customers and otherwise. There are a lot of frivolous suits against banks that require a cost-effective defense.

WLJ: What do you consider your biggest achievement, so far? Why?
Kreiter: I do not think of my achievements in terms of discrete events. I like to think I have made good decisions that have positioned me to do a job I love and that will result future opportunities.

WLJ: What trait do you most like in others?
Kreiter: Ambition. I admire people with big ideas and the stamina and perseverance to pursue them. I also like people who are down to earth and practical and have a work hard, play hard approach to life.

WLJ: What do you consider to be the most overrated virtue?
Kreiter: Spontaneity. This often leads to just plain bad decisions about important matters.

WLJ: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Kreiter: Learn to be more patient. I have been impatient my whole life. I have also heard that my driving skills leave much to be desired, which may be related to impatience.

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